Bulldog shares success

PUEBLO — The most important lesson Dimma Kalu learned in her 13 years at University Schools was how to share.

During the final day of the Class 3A State Track and Field championships Saturday, the soon-to-be Harvard student applied it well, spreading the state championship feeling around — of course those she shared it with were her own teammates.

Besides winning 100- and 200-meter dashes, Kalu anchored both the state champion 800 sprint medley team and the state champion 400 relay team, bringing home the relay titles for the second straight year. The University girls team also finished second place to Hotchkiss.

“I am so happy. You don’t even know how happy I am,” the senior who graduates today said about her team’s accomplishments. “People don’t understand how hard these girls work to get to this point. It makes me so mad sometimes to hear people say they couldn’t win it without me. They have to get that baton to me before I can do anything. These girls work their hearts out to make this team successful.”

Laura Pazik, the leadoff runner in both relays, admitted having Kalu on the team does free up some practice time for areas most teams don’t get as much practice in.

“We do work on hand-off after hand-off, after hand-off,” the junior said laughing.

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Kalu, who now has 10 state track titles in her career, said after winning the 100 and 200 events last year, she only wanted to give back to her team.

“I realized this was my last chance,” said Kalu, who hopes to become a pediatrician. “I just wanted to go out and give something back to my team.”

Most importantly, she’s giving her team a legacy to build on.

In the 800 sprint, the team now holds the state 3A record at 1:48.29, previously set by Hotchkiss in 1997. The girls actually broke the record Friday during preliminaries with a time of 1:49.65, but then broke it again during finals.

Kalu also holds the state records in the 100 and 200 dash at 12.07 and 24.54, respectively, and finished her prep career only seven-tenths of a second off from the all-time state record in the 100.

“I would say she is probably the fastest runner in the state next to (Ashley) Owens from Liberty,” coach Dan Betz said.

Owens set the state 4A record in 2003.

Kalu’s departure leaves some big shoes to fill, a thought that actually excites her teammates.

“It’s both fun and scary at the same time,” said Melissa Henkel, who runs the third leg in the relays. “I’m excited to see how people step up.”

Jayna Schmidt, who runs the second leg of the relays and is the newest runner to the team, said Kalu has offered guidance throughout the season.

“She forced you to want it,” Schmidt said. “She pushes you as hard as she can.”

Kalu has always shared the spotlight.

When her sister Nomnso started running track in the seventh grade, Kalu was there to act as manager until she was old enough to play herself.

Then when Nomnso took up basketball, it was Kalu managing again until she could play.

Now five years later, one year after Nomnso graduated and moved on to Harvard, Kalu is ready to do the same. Only there will be one thing she’s not sure she’ll share this time around — her precious time in medical school.

“I’ll probably run at least my freshman year,” she said. “But I’m kind of worried about keeping up with school and participating in sports.”

DAY TWO NOTES:

UNIVERSITY:

FOUR TIMES FOUR EQUALS TWO: The 800 sprint medley and 400 relay team of Laura Pazik, Jayna Schmidt, Melissa Henkel and Dimma Kalu brought home two state titles, running both events in the same order. While Kalu spent her entire 13 years at University Schools, the other girls have been there only a short time.

Pazik, a junior who has been running with Kalu since the seventh grade, moved in the seventh grade from Mountain View.

“This year has been amazing,” she said. “It has been so much fun. I’m really going to miss Dimma, but I’m excited to see how we’ll do next year.”

Schmidt came to University from Homestead Elementary in Cherry Creek when she was in the fourth grade.

“I’m going to eat a whole pizza by myself,” the sophomore said laughing. “I’m done training — for at least two weeks.”

Henkel was home-schooled until the ninth grade when she made the move. She said she credits Dimma and her sister Nomnso for getting her to the point she is now.

“They kept telling me ‘Melissa just shut up and run'” the junior said with a smile on her face. “I was so nervous then.”

CLOSE ONE: University just missed the team title, coming in second, but Betz was thrilled with the runner-up spot considering the girls team competed in only five events, compared to the winner Hotchkiss’ 16.

CONCRETE NO MORE: The girls were especially proud of the fact they won relay titles having trained on concrete all season. University’s new track is expected to be completed by mid-June.

VALLEY

It was a disappointing day for the team. With the Vikings’ strongest event saved for last, it looked like they might bring home the title. But the final turn in the 1600 relay saw those hopes dashed as the Hotchkiss anchor caught Valley runner Lisa Drew and never looked back. Valley finished the race in second (4:09.88). The Vikings also finished sixth in the 800 sprint medley (1:54.33) and the 400 relay (51.54).

Nia Ingram finished the day fifth in the 100 and sixth in the 200 (13.11 and 27.09 respectively).

ROOSEVELT

ROOSEVELT ROOST: Junior Erica Spaur, freshman Victoria Price, and seniors Dominique Hernandez and Tali Slafter won the 800 relay, becoming the first girls relay squad in school history to capture a state title.

The Rough Riders finished with a time of 1:46.11. Platte Canyon, which took second, and third-placed D’Evelyn, were within 2 1/2 seconds of Roosevelt.

“We knew that we had the best time in the state, so, we just had to out and really run today to make sure that we took care of it,” Breninger said. “I don’t know that it was a surprise to beat them, but it’s never a sure thing in relays. You have handoffs and you have to have everybody healthy and you have to have that teamwork together. Anything can happen.”

In addition to their state title in the 800 relay, the Rough Riders finished eighth in the 400 relay. Tali Slafter finished the day with a third in the 100 hurdles (16.39) and the 300 hurdles (47.38). Slafter won the long jump Friday.

PLATTE VALLEY

Senior Mandi Mondt had the best showing for the team this year with a fourth in the 300 hurdles (47.73) and second in the triple jump (34-03). The Broncos also finished seventh in the 800 relay (1:50.94) and the 1,600 relay (4:14.62). Emily Cross placed eighth in the 100 hurdles (17.60).

EATON:

The 3,200 relay team came in 12th with a time of 10:29.70.

HIGHLAND:

Danielle Dickey finished in seventh place in the triple jump (32-6.25).

ONE MORE FOR THE ROAD:

Hotchkiss senior Rachel Schmucker won her third straight title in both the 100 and 300 hurdles.

PUEBLO — Saturday’s final results from the Class 3A State Track and Field Championships at Dutch Clark Stadium: